Hermaphrodite Art Displaying Women Reincarnated in Men

Hermaphrodites, who expose both male and female organs, very rarely appear in the Japanese art of shunga. In these remarkable prints, they are invariably depicted as feminine in terms of their clothing and hair.

‘Hermaphrodite‘ from the series ‘Makura Bunko (The Pillow Library)‘ (c.1822) by Keisai Eisen

Extended Clitorises

In the book ‘Shunga, Stages of Desire‘ it is noted that Yoshida Hanbei (act.ca. 1660-1692), the author who categorized penises and vaginas into nine grades via a ranking system, discussed hermaphroditism (futanari) and women with extended clitorises (sanenaga).

Reincarnated

More than one hundred years later, in his text ‘Makura Bunko (The Pillow Library)‘, Keisai Eisen (1790-1848) also examines a hermaphrodite, to whom he referred with the Buddhist term henjo nanshi (literally, a woman reincarnated as a man).

‘Mature man making love to a younger hermaphrodite‘ (c. 1826) from the series ‘Otsumori sakazuki‘ by Utagawa Kunitora